The First Nova I See Tonight by Jason Kilgore (the false prince .txt) 📕

they dragged Mindol away toward the back door, a trail of blood left in his wake. As they did so, a different slave came and removed the food basin.

The don finally turned his attention to Dirken and Yiorgos.

"You may lower your arms," the Morlani translated to them. Dirken was very thankful. His hands and arms had gone completely numb.

"Thank you, your honor."

"Please, stand." Grimmag waved a tentacle toward Dirken and Yiorgos. "I must apologize for my guards. You are not prisoners here."

You have a strange way of treating guests, Dirken thought. He rubbed his hands, considering how best to respond. "I appreciate that. Why have you brought us here?"

Grimmag didn't answer. "Let me also apologize for the scene you just witnessed. It is just business, and it has nothing to do with you. I do not normally subject my guests to such… barbarism."

"Totally understandable, your honor. So are we free to go?" As soon as he said it, he knew how laughably stupid it sounded.

"Eow, you are a very loyal associate," Grimmag continued, not bothering to answer Dirken's question. "My mission to have you retrieve the Heart was successful beyond expectation."

Dirken gasped and turned to her. "You said you were there to deliver a message!"

Eow winked at him. "How do you think the Bloodhawk knew to ambush the Excellentia?"

Yiorgos said under his breath, "Played you like a deck of cards."

"Shut up," Dirken sputtered back. But he knew Yiorgos was right.

"Such cunning is evidence of leadership, Eow," Grimmag continued, the flames from the red torches gleaming in his ruby eye. "There is a new position just opened to lead our efforts on Tantalus III. You would be a good person to fill that role. As of today, you are a 'made man' and will have a small share of the take from that planet. We will deal with the formalities later."

The drug lords muttered in surprise. No one applauded as they had with the Corthian.

Eow's eyes widened in surprise. Then she seemed to catch herself and bowed. "I will serve as you need, my don, though I am a warrior, not a diplomat."

"A warrior with a strategic mind and an ability to prey on weaker wills."

Dirken winced.

Grimmag continued addressing her. "As I understand, your ship was disabled and kept by Captain Neenan." He gave what Dirken interpreted as a shrug, with a hunch and roll of the fatty body behind his head. "It is of no concern. We have many ships to give you. But the craft you acquired from the pirate is of excellent quality and fast. Do you wish for it instead?"

"Yes, my don," she answered.

"Hey!" Dirken protested. "That ship is mine. I stole it fair and square!"

Grimmag emitted a thick, gurgling wheeze and jiggled, which apparently was the Eridani way of laughing. The audience laughed and tittered along. Eow just looked sidelong at Dirken and winked.

"As for the two of you," Grimmag said, turning his attention back to Dirken and Yiorgos. "Eow promised no harm would come to you and that you would be free to go." He curled and uncurled his tentacles. "I always honor our agreements."

"Thank you, your honor. I knew that you would be…."

"But the Heart remains with me. You and your partner will need to be our guests for a Earth week or so while we conclude our business with it."

"That wasn't part of our deal!"

Eow flashed a smug smile. "I never said when you could leave. And I never said you could keep the Heart."

"Double-crosser! And to think I… I let you…."

Dimitri chuckled. "What's the matter, fool? Wasn't the sex good for you? Did she give you the 'stud' speech, too?"

"Fuck you."

Dimitri just laughed, then he blew a kiss to Eow.

She smiled back at the Martian, but for a fleeting moment her eyes met Dirken's. There was feeling there, perhaps a tinge of regret, but he was in no mood to sympathize.

Grimmag stretched a tentacle to touch the sphere and roll it over to him. It clanked along the dais surface until it sat in front of him, then he rolled it back and forth, studying it. "But do not worry," he continued through his interpreter. "I know the Heart is of great value to you. From businessman to businessman…" He gestured back and forth with a different tentacle. "…I understand that we do what we do for profit. I am prepared to pay you for your troubles. Two-hundred thousand United World chits should suffice."

Dirken put on a smile and spread his arms. "I appreciate the courtesy. That's a fraction of what we were going to earn, your honor. You and I both know it is worth so much more." He thought back to Markus Juarez, Governor of the Americas, offering seven hundred thousand.

Yiorgos cleared his throat and shot Dirken a look that said, Are you crazy? Take the money!

The Morlani interpreter took a step away from the don.

Grimmag emitted a wet grunt, then continued speaking in his gurgling language. "Of course it is!" the Morlani translated. "I can appreciate your greed and moxie. But let us face facts, Dirken Nova. All you did was carry it from one ship to another — and have it confiscated — then retrieved it again with the assistance of Eow. It is hard to consider this as 'earning.' But I am an understanding capitalist. I will increase to two-hundred and fifty thousand." He and the interpreter paused a moment, then Grimmag added, "I suggest you accept my offer. The alternative is not so agreeable."

Dirken glanced down at the trail of blood from the murdered Mindol the Undertaker. "Of course, your honor! I understand. And you are most generous."

He noticed Yiorgos visibly relax. They wouldn't be executed — at least for the moment.

Grimmag emitted a slightly different tone of farts and grunts that Dirken thought sounded somehow upbeat as he rolled the Heart back into the duffel bag. "I am glad we could come to an agreement," the interpreter translated. "Perhaps the future will bring… collaborative efforts."